EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid, Hamish Hamilton.

It could be any Muslim city. In any country, really, because the story is universal: two young people, Nadia and

Saeed, fall in love. Their romance is blooming when war breaks out. As the danger intensifies, the lovers discover magical doors – escape routes capable of transporting them to distant lands. Do they take these doors to become refugees? Or stay in their home, with their families, and risk death? Where does safety lie? Mohsin Hamid’s first novel since the award-winning The

Reluctant Fundamentalist puts a human face on the worldwide dilemma which millions of people face, and helps you understand how far desperation can drive you. Short, beautifully written, it’s a master-class in how to turn an issue into something you can feel, affecting people you care for.